Review
Intro
Located in the northwestern corner of Rutland, Pine Hill’s 300 acres of forest provide 16 miles of singletrack trail offering everything from rocky and technical to fast and flowy. After being slated for development years ago, the local community, under the leadership of Michael Smith- the trail system’s main builder and architect- came together to ensure that the park remained an outdoor recreational area offering a place for local residents to get out and enjoy nature. The park is now owned by the City of Rutland and maintained by the Rutland Recreation Department and the nonprofit, Pine Hill Partnership.
What Makes It Great
Pine Hill is a hidden gem within Rutland city limits. It’s not big and most average riders can hit all the trails in a span of three hours. Regardless of its size, it’s fun. The entire system is very well maintained and well marked. The climb from the parking area provides a good workout and once riders reach the top there is good potential for a long, solid ride along rolling terrain. The trails here offer a mix of bermed, fast flowing trails and technical trails with roots, rocks, rollers, kickers and rock drops, with Half Pipe and Svelte Tiger being two of the most highly recommended trails.There are many trails that are downhill only allowing for riders to pick up some speed and take advantage of the smooth terrain. Download a trail map.
The six fun and unique bridges throughout the trail system make this park one-of a kind. Of those, riders will enjoy Armadillo, a bridge based on the Fibonacci sequence; the Arch, a Chinese timber arch bridge; a 100-foot-long suspension bridge, and Centrifuge, a quarter circle that provides riders with a triple banked corner turn.
The overlook of Rocky Pond provides riders with a great view and spot to take pictures. Scenic vistas of the Green Mountains can also be enjoyed while riding along the trails.
If you are looking to add some mileage to your ride you can check out the Carriage Trail, which parallels the old road that connected Rutland to Proctor over Pine Hill in the 1700s and 1800s. It’s a 5.1 mile ride (one-way) and has moderate to difficult elevation gain along the way. Check out the trail map for more information.
The trails were all built with a high level of handiwork and a close attention to detail, allowing this city park to make a good impression on all levels of riders. The multipurpose trails invite use for all sorts of non-motorized activities, including hiking, running, biking, snowshoeing and geo-caching.
Who is Going to Love It
This is a park packed with a variety of trails. Riders of all levels will be able to find something to cruise around on. Everyone will have fun playing around on the bridges as they are unique and provide different challenges along the rolling trails.
Directions, Parking, & Regulations
Park at the Giorgetti Athletic Complex, 2 Oak Street Extension in Rutland.
Dogs are allowed in the park, but they must be leashed, which makes that challenging when mountain biking, so best bet to leave the pup at home.
